A blog dedicated to coverage of rock news, reviews of CD's/DVD's, live gigs and interviews with musicians who have made rock music great!
Coverage of hard rock, classic rock, AOR and popular melodic rock music across the genre.
This blog is the creation of Alun Williams, a Brit now living in Michigan whose previous credits include writing for the following sites:
www.classicrock.about.com
www.classicrockrevisited.com
and www.rocknrolluniverse.com (Now gone)
I hope you enjoy your visit here!

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Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thursday 17th December, 2009

Body: Frontiers Records is set to release on February 26th 2010 a collection of newly mastered and some previously un-released demos from Grammy-Award-Winner Rick Springfield and veteran producer, engineer, songwriter, and lead-guitar player from his first touring band, Jeff Silverman. Springfield and Silverman started recording together in the late 1970’s. I would go to [Jeff’s] studio when I wanted to record some really great sounding demos, says Springfield. We also wrote quite a few songs together, which was something I hadn’t done with another musician before.” Silverman states “Rick and I discovered that we had a great deal in common… our professional relationship began to evolve into more than just playing live. It grew to recording his demo’s together, writing together and eventually making records together.

From the Vault (A Collection of works by Rick Springfield & Jeff Silverman) consists of 13 tracks, originally recorded between 1986 and 1999, that have been digitally re-mastered by Jeff Silverman, giving the audience an entirely new listening experience. Many of the tracks, such as Dancin’ on the Edge of the World, Right Planet, Wrong World, You Write the Book, Dream in Colour, and Religion of the Heart are previously unreleased versions of the songs. Others such as Somewhere, Monkey, Love Receiver and My Depression were later recorded for Springfield’s albums. Springfield states that the songs on this CD are the result of long hours slaving over a hot studio console in Jeff’s studio and have never been released like this before. Even though many of the songs on the CD were never released, agrees Silverman, the care, the hard work and love that went into making every song the best we could make, was always our main objective.

Final tracklisting of “From the Vault (A Collection of works by Rick Springfield & Jeff Silverman)” includes:

Dancin’ On The Edge of the World; Right Planet, Wrong World; You Write The Book; Monkey; Love Receiver; Hey Eileen; Dream in Colour (demo); Woman II; Religion of the Heart; Why Don’t You Dance; Somewhere; My Depression; In Veronica’s Head.

As a perfect companion to this release, Frontiers Records will also be reissuing in Europe a special edition of Rick Springfield’s latest album “Venus in Overdrive”, originally released in July 2008. Debuting in the USA on the Billboard chart at #28; this achievement marks Springfield’s highest chart position since the mid 80’s.

This 2010 version comes with the worthy addition of a bonus track (a new recording of Celebrate Youth) and a concert DVD, “Live in Rockford” originally released in October 2006 in the USA only. Filmed live as part of the HDNet Concert Series at the historic Coronado Theatre in Rockford, IL, Rick showcases his talent and everlasting energy in this special release.

To date, Rick Springfield has sold over 19 million records and has charted a whopping 17 top 40 hits, including his #1 hit, Jessie’s Girl. Having performed for millions of fans over the last three decades, and showing no signs of slowing down, Rick continues to play 100 shows a year, sharing his love of performing, unstoppable energy and his unique brand of crowd interaction with thousands of fans each night. Rick literally wades deep into the crowd at each show. His tour dates also include a 5-day fan oriented cruise. This year, the 3rd annual Rick Springfield & Friends cruise is set to sail in November 2010. In 2005, Springfield returned to daytime TV’s General Hospital as the character he originated in the 80’s, Dr. Noah Drake as well as assuming an alternate character, Aussie rocker Eli Love. More recently, Springfield appeared on a 4 episode ARC on Showtime’s hit show Californication’s 3rd season.

Jeff Silverman is a veteran producer, engineer, songwriter, accomplished musician and singer. He started playing piano at the age of 5, then guitar at 10 and made the decision to make music a lifelong career not long after. After traveling around the US in club bands after high school, he arrived in LA in 1976 and almost immediately met up with Rick Springfield for his first US tour of the Wait for Night album. He has been a staff songwriter at Motown/LA and has co-written with a number of artists including: Rick Springfield, Michael Peterson and Tommy TuTone. Jeff has also mixed, mastered and edited for artists such as: Charice, Boyz to Men, David Cassidy, George Clinton and Prince and has performed live with Rick Springfield, Roger Miller and Redbone. He currently operates Palette Studios his own Pro Tools HD3 studio in Nashville, Tennessee where he writes, produces and records.

This recording is an exclusive 3 disc live CD of Paul Rodger’s Hammersmith Apollo show from 6th November 2009. This CD is only available from Concert Live and features many of the the classic hits from the Bad Company back catalogue and successful solo career.

The live CD is strictly limited edition and features the full live show and an exclusive 3rd bonus disc that includes photo’s from the night and behind the scenes footage. This backstage video content is exclusive to this live CD, you will not see this anywhere else!

Well Foreigner it seems are true to their word, per their latest successful album titled "Can't Slow Down," released exclusively through Walmart this year, that charted in the top 30 of the Billboard 200 albums listings.
Their tour dates just keep on stacking up!
Here's the latest batch of dates from them:

Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Announces his departure, only a year after doing so ... Read on!
Posted over at the BBC news website today no less, the following piece:

Guitarist John Frusciante has confirmed that he has left Californian band Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Writing on his personal website the 39-year-old revealed he'd actually left the group over 12 months ago whilst the band were on "hiatus".

Whilst the rockers will continue with an as yet unconfirmed replacement, internet rumours had suggested Frusciante had left to pursue his own projects but he confirmed the news by writing on his blog.
He said: "When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding."

'Happy' decision ...
The statement continued, adding: "They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways. To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction."
"There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do."

Frusciante joined Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1989 album Mother's Milk and contributed to four others.
He left the band in 1992 before rejoining in 1999 to help write hit album Californication.
The guitarist has also released 10 solo albums.

“Next year, I have every intention of playing music live and making it — manifesting it. I’ve got it. I’ve got it there. I’ve got the music waiting. It just needs to be done. So that’s it. That’s what I’ll be doing.

“It’s been two years since the O2 (the Zeppelin reunion show in December 2007). It’s time to do that.”